Napoleon was unusually short
| Napoleon was unusually short | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Napoleon Bonaparte was a very short man, around five feet two inches, and his ambition was driven by insecurity about his height." | |
| Domain | History |
| Tactic | Propaganda Technique Statistical & Evidentiary Distortion |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1800s |
| Origin | Confusion between French and English units of measurement, British caricatures portraying Napoleon as tiny, and his nickname "le petit caporal" |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on History | |
The claim that Napoleon was unusually short is a long-lived myth that gave its name to the "Napoleon complex." After Napoleon's death in 1821, his height was recorded as five feet two inches in French units. The French inch, or pouce, was longer than the English inch, so this corresponded to roughly five feet six or seven inches, or about 168 to 170 centimeters, around average or slightly above average for a Frenchman of his time. British cartoonists, especially James Gillray, depicted Napoleon as a tiny, tantrum-prone figure, and his affectionate nickname "the little corporal" and his habit of being surrounded by tall Imperial Guard soldiers reinforced the impression.
What the evidence shows
- Units. The French pied and pouce were longer than English feet and inches. Five feet two inches in French measure converts to roughly 5 feet 7 inches in English measure.
- Contemporary accounts. Some records and witnesses described Napoleon as about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches.
- Average height. The average French man of the period was around 5 feet 5 inches, so Napoleon was not unusually short.
- Caricature. Gillray's cartoons, such as Maniac-Raving's—or—Little Boney in a Strong Fit (1803), helped shape the British image of "Little Boney."
- Napoleon complex. The idea that short men compensate with aggression was named after Napoleon in the 20th century. Research on the effect has been mixed.
Why it persists
Propaganda caricatures were widely circulated, and the "Napoleon complex" offered a memorable psychological story. Unit conversions are easy to overlook.
Lessons for readers
- Check units of measurement in historical records.
- Enemy propaganda can shape lasting images of historical figures.
- Nicknames may express affection rather than describe physical traits.
- Psychological explanations for historical figures should be treated cautiously.
See also
- Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake"
- Catherine the Great died while having sex with a horse
- Nero fiddled while Rome burned
Sources
- Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life (Viking, 2014).
- British Museum collection, prints by James Gillray depicting Napoleon.